Archive for May, 2010

The dutch electronic music magazine DJ Broadcast did a really crazy project in the fantastic Off Centre Festival that we had the joy and honor to play at: they produced their next issue in 24 hours, inside the festival facilities of the Melkweg. And we were lucky enough to be the cover story of the magazine!

You can download a full PDF copy of the magazine here, or just read through the JPGs below if you understand dutch…

Our friends at bln.fm had me over for a long studio talk about me, my current album and projects, as well as a lot of personal things. So if you feel like listening to me talking for an hour straight, tune in!

Listen to the stream on their website if you don’t live in Berlin and thus can’t receive the radio signal, on either Tuesday 25th of May at 8pm // Saturday 29th of May at 4pm // Sunday 31st of May 9pm.

Sadly, I don’t speak Polish, even though i tried to learn it at one point in my life. So i am thankful that Google Translate does exist, since it allows at least for a general idea what a text is about. So, never mind the silly English in the translation below the original text; it’s just to give you an idea.

Thank you Pawel Gzyl for all the support throughout my releases, I hope we will meet in person one day!!!

When in the early 90s detroit techno reached Germany through the Tresor club and record shop Hard Wax, that the manufacturers have developed ideas of their older colleagues in the Motor City in two directions – a strong and specific playing style, Underground Resistance, and the more elaborate and atmospheric music, as far as epic, vibrant trance pulse. Recordings of the first published primarily Tresor and the latter works – factories outside the capital of united Germany, even if Harthouse Fax from Frankfurt.

While the spicy style of Tresor techno saints have a triumphant return today, it still seems to remain in obscurity. But there are exceptions to this rule. The most important of these is the work of Cologne’s manufacturer Till Rohmann, hiding under his pseudonym ‘Glitterbug’.

Acting in the two decades in the electronic scene, he gave first to know, as a creative DJ who specializes in straight sets at the monumental three decks, then as an operational life of the club and organizer of the festival (including Israel) and finally – a talented producer. In the latter incarnation revealed to the world two years ago, releasing the album “Supershelter”, recalling the days when ambient, techno and trance were unity. Recent work of Lohmann – a double album, “Privilege” – is a continuation of themes from her debut, but even more epic formula.

The album starts out exactly as it should – from ambient dreamless, sunk in the rustling sounds lovely surroundings and subtle piano passages (“Lionheart”). Only then these impressionistic tone emerges, carrying a steady pulse of techno pearly pastel synthesizer passages lined with deep bass procession (“Swirl”). When the strong silent strike the drum, there are delicate chords piano again – this time zdubowane studio reverberations flirting ring of pearly buttons (“Blue Rifts). They lead straight into a solid segment of the majestic transowego techno sound.

This time, slow and heavy beats emerge from a thick-noise ratio (“Wide And Near”), paving the way sążnistym waves of synthesizer melodies of acquiring melodies (“Calcutta”) from time to time and this is the stylized detroitową (“After All”), and This Chicago (“Confront”) fashion. The highlight of this set is the murderous “Pink Sparks (Cave Edit)” – growling and rattling keyboard przesterami tarry a techno bass drone. At the end of the first disc is turning to laboratory minimalowi version in archetypal: a massive “Vertical Extent” which evokes memories of early recordings from Sähkö or Raster Noton.

Two more days until the release… but the first few already purchased some copies, especially the vinyl of ‘Privilege’. As a little reminder: those purchasing the vinyl release of the album are eligible to download the full CD release by sending a photo of themselves with the vinyl, or the vinyl in a scenery of their choice. In addition to the photo, a picture of the number of the vinyl copy has to be sent.

For us Europeans: Exclaim is Canada’s largest music magazine, covering everything from indie rock to mainstream pop- and also, a little bit of electronic music. They print a humble 100.000 copies of their magazine and roughly 200.000 monthly users of their website. To have such a presence in such a large magazine is a really huge deal. Especially when getting the very special recommending yellow exclamation point… niiiice! Thanks!!

“Upon opening the standard CD case for the new Glitterbug record it is warming to see the generosity and forth-righteousness of two CDs of music. This record would be the perfect background for a walk through an avant-garde art gallery or the soundtrack to a film with spacey city cinematography. In fact, Privilege is a serious work of art, perfect for the professional electronic music enthusiast’s at home listening or at work listening (depending on how you work). With both ceremonial and classical elements of sound throughout, disc one is percussively oriented. Sweet ambient break beats slide in and out the progression of songs. “Calcutta” emphasizes elements of a bell enveloped by the rhythm of the beat. Disc two takes percussion in new directions, demonstrating a more beat-oriented, ambient trance sound. “Slurred Thinking” offers that deep, slowed-up bass undercurrent reminiscent of a soft engine’s roar. Glitterbug will direct you places the Orb or Underworld would take you with discerning sounds both profound and alive.” Sarah Ferguson